Hepatitis C

Social Security Disability For People With Hep C

If you have
Hepatitis C and are unable to work, you may qualify for
Social Security Disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income. Some individuals have such a severe case that they meet Social Security's list of medical criteria and can be found automatically disabled without having to prove an inability to work. Individuals who meet the listing generally have end-stage liver disease or very severe damage to the liver and complications such as internal bleeding, fluid in the peritoneal or pleural cavity or hepatorenal syndrome.

Symptoms Of Hepatitis C

Most people do not meet the listing, but are instead found disabled because the symptoms arising from the hepatitis C and its treatment cause functional limitations that prevent the individual from engaging in work activity on a regular and continuous basis. Hepatitis C can cause severe weakness, lack of energy and generalized malaise. Treatment for hepatitis C, such as interferon, can cause debilitating side effects such as fever, chills, exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, depression and joint pains.

Treatment Is Very Important

If you have hepatitis C, and are seeking or intend to seek disability benefits, it is important that you are in treatment with a gastroenterologist rather than just your primary care physician. Secondly, it is important that you are up front with your doctors about your symptoms and side effects of the medications so that they are documented in your medical records. It is also important for you to take notice of how the hepatitis C has affected your daily activities at home (if you are not currently working). Social Security will look at your daily functioning as an indicator of how you may or may not function in the workplace setting, so it is important to note these things in as much detail as possible in any paperwork that you complete for your claim.

Hepatitis C Treatment Is Not Easy To Measure

Because the symptoms arising from hepatitis C and its treatment are not easy to measure, it is important to submit opinion testimony from a treating physician, laying out in detail all of the functional limitations arising from the disorder such as an inability to stand and walk for more than two hours at a time, or the need to lie down for at least two hours out of an eight hour day. Such functional limitations may also include an inability to stay on task consistently or report to work on a daily basis because of the fatigue, depression and concentration difficulties. Laboratory results such as serum bilirubin reports and the results of liver biopsies should also be submitted to strengthen your case.

Free Social Security Disability Case Evaluation

Are you suffering from hepatitis C and seeking SSD benefits?
Contact us today online or by telephone at
412-567-1232 or toll free at
866-466-5789 to speak with an experienced lawyer. Initial consultations are free and confidential.

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